Valance light



July 4, 1950 I GRAHAM 2,514,049

VALANCE LIGHT Filed Oct. 23, 1947 INVENTOR.

m g/e 5144): Y v

Patented July 4, 1950 .lf-UNITED STATES oals-lion Y 2,514,049fi VALANCE LIGHT I -"George Graham, Detroit,,-;Micl1 .,sassignorato Kent Moore Organizatiomlnm, :Detroit, Mich, I a corporation of Michigan a j g v i Application ctober23, 19417;.SeriaFNoflSlfllfl This invention relates to an improved valance light. r

An object is to provide a valance light which is so designed as to be capable of use within a shop or other business establishment and is designed to illuminate a particular section or division of the shop and includes a sign which is also illuminated and which may indicate the character of the particular portion of the establishment provided with the valance light. For example, in a service station such a valance light might be provided for the brake service department and the light would include not only sign characters to indicate that such was the brake service department but would also serve to illuminate such department.

An object of this invention is to provide such a valance light which is inexpensive, of attractive appearance, and which will function effectively to illuminate an indicating sign and also to illuminate the surface of the floor beneath said sign.

A meritorious feature of my valance light is that it is of a simple unitary character which is adapted to be readily positioned in place and which will furnish a maximum of illumination for the area to be illuminated and for the sign which indicates the character of such an area and at a minimum of cost.

Other meritorious objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description, claims and appended drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective partially broken away of my improved valance light.

Fig. 2 is an end view, with the end of the casing removed, of the light fixture shown in Fig. 1.

This light fixture comprises an elongate casing indicated generally by the numeral it], which is adapted to be suspended in any suitable manner, as by supporting chains I2. The casing exhibits front and back walls, l4 and I6 respectively, and top and bottom walls, It! and 20 respectively. These wall sections are secured together by angular frame members 22 or the like as by riveting or in any other suitable fashion. The bottom wall has a downwardly facing reflector surface.

There is a forwardly facing reflector surface portion 24 which extends upwardly and somewhat forwardly from the top of the front wall of the casing as shown particularly in Fig. 2.

There is a trough portion defined by a rear wall 26 and a front wall 28 which trough portion is disposed below the forwardly facing reflector 24.

1? .e 1ear al 3.6 ra l-t ghel w th inwardl ush-isdi pcs d-c irett .15 .-==.1tef .tor .2!- ends of the casing and the ends of the trough are closed by end plates 30 as shown in figures of the drawing. The angular frame members 22 heretofore referred to in connection with the casing are provided also in connection with the trough and serve to facilitate the connection of the end walls 30 to the casing and to the trough.

The trough is an upwardly open one and the front wall is provided along its upper edge with an upwardly open channel 32 formed between the front wall 28 of the trough and a plate 34 secured to such front. Within this channel web portions 36 of sign characters 38 may be removably received to support such sign characters in edgewise disposition superimposing the upper edge of the front wall of the trough as shown on the drawing.

Elongate light tubes are provided, one light tube 40 is shown as mounted within the trough extending lengthwise thereof. A plurality of light tubes 42, three being here shown, are disposed below the downwardly facing reflector 20 in parallel relationship and extending lengthwise of such reflector. These light tubes 42 are shown as separated by vertical reflectors 44.

An electric light wire 46 is shown in Fig. 1 as entering the top of the casing and within the easing there are provided suitable electrical connections which lead to the tubes. Such construction is conventional.

It will be observed that the front wall 28 of the trough terminates at the bottom spaced from the rear wall 26 of the trough. This provides an opening 46 extending along the bottom of the trough out of which light rays from the tube 40 may pass downwardly to assist in illuminating the area below the sign as well as upwardy to illuminate the reflector 24 which is disposed to the rear of the sign characters. The light tube 40 throws its illumination upon the reflector 24 and the sign characters 38 stand out sharply against such background. The light tubes 42 illuminate the area below the light fixture and the downwardly facing reflector 20 reflects the light rays downwardly over such area.

What I claim is:

1. A valance light comprising an elongate casing provided with a downwardly facing reflector extending lengthwise thereof, a forwardly facing reflector extending lengthwise thereof and projecting upwardly from the front of the casing, an upwardly open trough extending lengthwise of the casing and having its rear wall disposed directly below the forwardly facing reflector and its front wall disposed below and generally forwardly thereof, sign characters supported edgewise upon the top of the front wall of the trough spaced forwardly of the forwardly facing reflector, an electric light source extending lengthwise of the casing within the trough below the forwardly facing reflector and an electric light source disposed below the downwardly facing reflector and extending lengthwise of the casing.

2. A valance light comprising an elongate cas-= ing provided with a downwardly facing reflector extending lengthwise thereof, a forwardly facing reflector extending lengthwisethereof a'nd pro- 4 jecting upwardly and forwardly above the front margin of the downwardly facing reflector, an

upwardly open trough disposedtbelow and for-jj wardly of the forwardly facing reflector, the front 4 mounted edgewise upon the forward wall of the trough spaced in front of the forwardly facing reflector, an electric light source extending lengthwise of the trough below said characters and below the forwardly facing reflector, said trough being open lengthwise along the bottom whereby the light rays fromthe light source in the trough. passj both downwardly and upwardly out of the trough.

GEORGE M. GRAHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNiTEn sTATEs PATENTS Campen Nov. :io, 1943 

